Improvement in revolving ordnance



N. TALIAFER-RO.

Machine Gun.

No. 34,171 Patented Jan. 14, 1862.

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS TALIAFERRO, OF AUGUSTA,KENTUGKY.,

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,171, dated January 14, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS TALIAFERRO, of Augusta, Bracken county, Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Ordnance; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, true, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to the class of ordnance having a many-chambered breech rotating in a plane at right angles to the guns axis.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cannon embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the revolving breech. Fig. 4 is a back view of the barrel.

A, B, and 0 may represent respectively the axle, the train, and the wheels of a suitable gun-carriage.

Secured firmly upon the axle is a socket, D,

, having a step, E, and set-screw F, for the reception of a ball-trunnion, G, which projects from the under side of the barrel. From the rearend of the barrel H project several lugs, which form collectively the front check, I I I, to receive bolts K and nuts L of the rear cheek, M. The check I II is recessed ati and i, to afford facility for loading and swabbing, as hereinafter explained.

N is arevolving breech, journaled in front and rear cheek in the manner represented.

The frontjournal, O, has the form of a truncated cone, and is held'securely to its place by a pair of dovetailed steps, P, and tightening-key Q. The rear journal, R,terminates in a handle, S, by which the breech is rotated.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are chambers in the breech, their rear extremities communicating with. the outside of the breech by means of touchholes T.

U is a spring-catch for holding the breech to each of its six working positions successively.

V is a steel bush or ferrule, adapted to be screwed into the enlarged rear end of the bore, so as to be replaced by a new one whenever necessary. This provision enables the gunner to maintain a constantly gas-tight joint at the breech.

W is a water-pan for cooling the breech, and may be applied inside of the cheeks I I I and M, as in Figs. 1 and 3, or outside, as in Fig.2.

X is a screw for adjusting the range. The face of the revolving breech N may rest at its lower part against a roller, Y, journaled into the front cheek, I, or, where an inside waterpan is used, into the side of the water-pan.

The forward portion of the trail may be forked or recessed to allow of any required depression of the breech.

Operation: The gun having been set to its range and hearing by means of the screws F and X, the breech N is then charged by inserting each load successively in chambers 1 2 3, &c., as each chamber, by the rotation of the breech, is brought into position 1. The touchhole for the time being uppermost, being then primed, the gun may be fired. The gunner now with his left hand withdraws the catch U, and with his right rotates the breech N through sixty degrees of the circle, so as to bring in line with the bore the succeeding chamber, whose touch-hole being now primed the gun is again ready for firing. Each empty chamber as it reaches position 3 is swabbed by an attendant. It will be seen that the recessed form given to the front cheek, I, exposes a chamber on each side in positions 1 and 3, and

thus affords ample facility for the operations of loading and swabbing respectively on the left and right sides of the piece.

I claim herein as new audof my invention- 1. The arrangement of recessed front check, I I I it, rear cheek, M, revolving breechN OB, and dovetailed bearing P Q, the whole being combined and operating substantially as set forth.

2. The screwthreaded bush V, adapted for insertion within and removal from the rear end of the bore of a breech-loading cannon, in the manner and for the object stated.

3. Supporting a cannon upon a downwardlyprojecting ball-trunnion, G, combined within a socket, D, and resting upon an adjustable step, E, all substantially as herein shown and explained.

4. The described application of water-pan W, inclosing the lower portion of the revolving breech N O R, as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

NICHOLAS TALIAFERRO. Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, J. T. MELCHER. 

